Bafana Bafana and Tunisia entered the halftime break with the score level at 0-0 in their final Group E clash at the Africa Cup of Nations.
2023 Africa Cup of Nations
Halftime: South Africa 0-0 Tunisia
Date: 24 January 2024
Venue: Stade Amadou Gon Coulibaly
Bafana kept the same line-up that hammered Namibia, as Percy Tau, Themba Zwane and Thapelo Morena supported lone strike Evidence Makgopa up top.
Hugo Broos' charges were setup from deep in the early exchanges, as they looked to contain Tunisia but the Carthage Eagles did not play a high line, which created spaces in midfield.
After knocking the ball around well, Makgopa had a good chance to break the deadlock for South Africa just before the half-hour mark after a cross by Tau at the near post but he guided his header wide.
Bafana gained momentum and Mothobi Mvala came very close to finding the back of the net towards the interval with a flicked header in the box that missed the far post agonizingly wide.
Tunisia were were physical in their tackles and went to the ground far too easily, as they could not threaten Bafana goals and the sides went to the break deadlocked.
Bafana were dealt an injury blow after the break, as Khuliso Mudau did not return to the pitch after a couple of knocks in the first stanza and he was replaced by Nyiko Mobbie.
The game was tactical early in the second stanza as the Carthage Eagles were not yet willing to commit numbers going forward but made it difficult for Bafana to get behind their defence.
Broos eventually made an attacking change with 23 minutes to go, as Thapelo Maseko came on for Morena for a different approach upfront.
The game opening up in the closing stages as Sphephelo Sithole came close breaking the deadlock 12 minutes before time with a strike from the edge of the box that was parried in the bottom corner by goalkeeper Ben Said at full-stretch.
South Africa pressurized the North African side as Makgopa also came close moments later with a header in the box that saved by Said.
Tunisia had the momentum in the dying minutes and Haythem Jouini almost snatched the winner in the last minute with a header in the six-yard box that sailed just over the crossbar, as Bafana held on in the end and a point helped them finish second in Group E and qualified for the last 16.
Here's how they lined up:
South Africa: Williams, Mudau, Kekana, Mvala, Modiba, Mokoena, Sithole, Morena, Zwane, Tau, Makgopa.
Subs: Goss, Mothwa, Mobbie, Mashego, Xulu, Appollis, Adams, Maseko, Monare, Lepasa, Sibisi, Mayambela
Tunisia: Ben Said, Elabdi, Talbi, Meriah, Rafia, Ben Slimane, Laidouni, Skhiri, Kechrida, Jaziri, Elyes
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